Ancient Hellenic Magick

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”Every world crowns its own kings, laurels its own gods [...] we burn in our own fire.” —Sylvia Plath

Magick appears in all shapes and forms in Greek mythos. Circe used her magic wand and sacred herbs to turn men into pigs. Hekate is a great goddess who rules of witchcraft and necromancy, and is often a favorite idol and deity among witches. Orpheus, known as “he who haled all things by the rapture of his voice” charmed even the King and Queen of the Underworld, and brought back his beloved Eurydice.

In Ancient Greece, little was known about modern science. Life consisted of astronomy, superstition, magick, and religion (often all are interconnected into beliefs). Magick, or mageia consisted of katadesmoi (curse tablets and binding spells), philtra (love potions), and epoidai (sinister wishes/prayers). These methods of magick and sorcery were always incorporated with a deity. Sacrifices for more darker spells, and to make spells in general were often made to the Khthonic deities.

The ancient Greeks were just as we are today. Human, struggling, competitive, and striving to get needs met. As modern witches do today with their spells, they (and among several other cultural groups) performed spells to have their religious and personal needs met.

As most spells and sacrifices were made to the Khthonic deities, these were often left in places where the ancient Hellenes believed to be closest to the underworld. However there have been katadesmoi located by archaeologists in large Ancient Greek populaces. Sacrifices were made often to deities such as Haides, Hekate, Kharon, or Persephone (or Praxidike).

To conclude, those who were known to practice were feared, and associated with the negative concepts of life (just as witches have always been throughout history). Ancient Hellenic magick was always aided with a deity. However, the practice of magick was considered leveling yourself to a deity, and every ritual concerning hellenism should be paired with a miasma cleanse or a veiling accompanied with the ritual. Devotion, prayer, sacrifice, and hymns were essential to the Hellenic practice, and this reins true today.